If you’ve met an amazing group of local riders in your community but don’t have a local motorcycle event where you and your friends can hang out and show off your bikes, it’s time to plan a motorcycle rally. Motorcycle rallies are great ways to fundraise for causes you care about in your community, raise awareness for the local motorcycle community, and draw in bikers from nearby towns to socialize and learn the area.
But how do you plan a motorcycle rally for the first time?
1. Choose a Cause
Whether you want to fundraise for local schools, organize a pet adoption drive, create a scholarship fund for kids in need, or provide essential services for local veteran organizations, you need a cause to tie to your new motorcycle event. You can check the status of the nonprofit organization at Guidestar. Nonprofits that have 501-c-3 status will work the best for collecting donations.
2. Appoint Board Members to Organize
Motorcycle clubs often designate certain members to manage upcoming events. If you aren’t organizing your event as a member of a local motorcycle club, you may need a few members of your local motorcycle community to step up and volunteer as event organizers.
3. Consider Organizing a Non-Profit
Many motorcycle clubs are actually non-profit organizations. This means they can organize events and allow donors to write off their donations as charitable donations.
If you want to plan a motorcycle rally outside of creating a local motorcycle club, you can also file an application to make a 501-c-3 organization for your event. Many motorcycle rallies are set up as these types of nonprofit groups for fundraising.
4. Design the Event (Guided Ride, Rally, Poker Run, Bike Show, etc.)
What kind of rally will it be? When is it? Where is it? Will local businesses support it? You need to consider whether your event will be a single-day poker run and block party, a family-friendly guided motorcycle ride through the area’s scenery, or a multi-day biker-only rally at a local campground.
5. Purchase Liability Insurance and Assemble Other Paperwork
You will need event liability insurance to cover accidents, waivers for riders, registration to participate, and partner liability coverage for sponsors and hosts.
6. Secure City or County Permits
Local municipalities may require event permits and proof of liability insurance. You may also want to contact your local police department to see if they require a police presence for events over a certain size.
7. Contact Prospective Vendors
Your event is likely to benefit from vendors to attract local participants. Bikers appreciate discounted gear, used parts, and food and drink options from food trucks and restaurants. Ask your local motorcycle dealerships to participate, and consider a swap meet, raffle prizes, or other goodies to encourage a bigger crowd.
8. Find Local Sponsors
Radio stations, dealerships, auto parts stores, and other biker-friendly organizations might buy sponsorships in exchange for advertising. Be ready to offer some shoutouts to your top sponsors on your event social media pages and printed logos on koozies for water bottles and beer cans.
9. Find Entertainment
DJs and live bands liven up the crowd and help encourage donations. Two free beer tickets don’t mean anything if visitors have to sit in silence to drink them. Live music is a winner.
10. Spread the Word
You can organize the best event ever and not make a dime off of entry fees if no one shows up. You need to promote on social media, radio ads, newspaper announcements, and more. Create a compelling event press release that includes what, where, why, when and whom. Write at least a few paragraphs about your event and be sure to provide contact information for potential sponsors and attendees.
Call Law Tigers for Motorcycle Accident Help
Don’t forget any of these steps the next time you plan a motorcycle rally. Law Tigers are attorneys who ride and occasionally sponsor local motorcycle events. Call us at 888-863-7216 for a free case evaluation.
